March 24, 2020

For the Love of Soup!

March 24, 2020/ Tessa O'Toole

If you have the time, energy and it’s available, foods like winter squash, onions, and potatoes have a longer shelf life, so you can buy them in bulk and create a variety of different meals and snacks that are nutritious and satisfying. A whole winter squash can keep for a month or so.

Butternut squash is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin A and carotenoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, which help to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation (boy, do we need those helpers these days!), and is a good source of manganese, potassium, magnesium and fiber.

February 13, 2020

What the Heck is Intuitive Eating?

February 13, 2020/ Tessa O'Toole

Intuitive Eating is a weight neutral, evidenced based approach to health that helps people develop body awareness and learn to honor their health by listening and responding to the internal needs of their body. Studies on Intuitive Eating have shown improvement in HDL cholesterol, enjoyment of food, self compassion, quality of life, coping skills and self esteem and linked to reduced rates of eating disorders, disordered eating, cardiovascular risk and triglyceride levels, body dissatisfaction, and body shame.

January 31, 2020

What the Heck is Health At Every Size?

January 31, 2020/ Tessa O'Toole

Health At Every Size (HAES) is a weight inclusive approach to healthcare; it is a movement focused on promoting size-acceptance, ending weight discrimination and diminishing the cultural obsession with weight loss and thinness. HAES encourages people to develop lifestyle behaviors that are health promoting and that can reduce health risks, for all bodies.

January 22, 2020

What the Heck is Diet Culture?

January 22, 2020/ Tessa O'Toole

This is the time of year where Diet Culture THRIVES! It finds life feeding on the insecurities of “indulgent” eating during the holidays, the idea that we need to “cleanse” our body of the “toxic” foods consumed, the old saying “New Year, New You,” often meaning let’s lose weight because we aren’t good enough the way we are. January hits and diet culture is stocked up on new products and diets, headlines of said celebrity losing “X” pounds doing this one simple thing and are barely recognizable, or whatever. It’s not even the end of the month and I’ve already had my fair share of eye roll moments.

December 14, 2018

Tessa's Schweddy Holiday Balls

December 14, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

‘Tis the season for Holiday Schweddy Balls! If you don’t get the reference, I’m sorry, go watch some holiday SNL from the 90’s and get back to me.

November 28, 2018

Holiday Shopping Inspiration

November 28, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

The last few years I have felt a little hesitant about Christmas gifts. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have a want list, but I as I try to minimize my possessions, I don’t really want to fill my home and life with things that I don’t really need or bring me joy. Just to clarify, I don’t consider myself to be a minimalist (as much as I’d like to), but I’m trying here. Bless my friends and family and their good intentions, but I really don’t need another cat themed gift in my life- unless it’s cute and me af.

November 12, 2018

Seasonal Eating + Soup & Salad Recipes

November 12, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

The cooler temperatures have most of us craving hardy and warm foods, the comfort of our own homes, cozy clothes, fuzzy blankets, warm drinks, snuggles and ready to bust out some seasonal decorations (I already did :D). Seriously, as soon as the time changes, don’t ask me to leave my house after the sun sets, I’m likely already in sweats, face-mask on and curled up on the couch with my cats. I’m not going anywhere. (I recently learned that I am more of an introvert than I thought, so this is all finally making sense :D)

August 13, 2018

Vitamin Table <3

August 13, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

I am currently working towards becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) that requires 1,000 supervised hours in addition to passing the CNS exam, so I have lots of studying to do! I thought creating a vitamin and mineral table would be a helpful practice for me, but also as an educational resource for others.

August 02, 2018

Nut Butters, a Labor of Love Story

August 02, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

It's so important to continue challenging ourselves in order to experience growth, evolve & build a stronger relationship with ourself. And yes, all this power & positivity talk ties into making nut butters, for me at least. I'm quickly learning that I do not enjoy when I cannot do something (that I want to do), to the point of sheer frustration, reaching for a glass of wine, grumbling, groaning, grunting, asking "Why do I keep doing this to myself?" Guess I'm a sicko & I kind of enjoy it because it pushes me to do it again, but better. I haven't learned from these mistakes because I kind of like saying yes to things without overthinking (or just simply thinking them through).

July 13, 2018

DIY Nut Milks

July 13, 2018/ Tessa O'Toole

My mother always told me "Less is more", and for most situations, I believe this statement to be pretty accurate. However, it wasn't until I started on my own health journey did I really start thinking about this statement in relation to food. Now I'm not saying eating less is food is more, but when it comes to the ingredients in the food we purchase, it should be a factor to consider.

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